President Rodrigo Duterte approved Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) new department order on contractualization. Labor groups protested and marched to Mendiola to call on President Duterte to fulfill his promise to end all forms of contractualization.

The Department Order (DO) No. 30 was transmitted to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval. On the other hand, the organized labor groups called on the president's rejection of the new DO 30.

The unemployment rate in the Philippines was at its lowest in 11 years in October. The Labor Force Survey (LFS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported a 4.7 percent unemployment rate but underemployment slightly increased at 18 percent from last year's 17.6 percent.

The Philippines' joblessness rate in the third quarter was lower than the reported rate in June, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS). More Filipinos also have very high optimism that more jobs will be offered in the next 12 months.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) sets a job creation target of 7.2 million by 2022. It is foreseen that the government will provide 1.2 million jobs annually up until the end of President Rodrigo R. Duterte's term.

A contractualization policy or guideline is anticipated to be enforced by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) before 2016 ends. DOLE has yet to decide on totally ending contractualization, allowing contractualization or striking a balance between the two positions.